Fire-extinguishing device



July 21 1925. 1,546,576 o. R. ERWIN ET AL FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 28, 1920 in-van to as 1 OrZanda EEPu/[n/ Q 5 8 at tom w us/hrg/d 14 (1/03,

Patented July 21, 1925.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO It. ERWIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AND HAROLD V. GLOS, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF THREE-NINTHS TO SAID OR- LANDO R. ERWIN AND SIX-NINT'HS TO JOHN J'- HANNAN, HERMAN L. EKREN,

AND THOMAS F. FRAWLEY.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING DEVICE.

Application filed October 28, 1920, Serial No. 420,094. Renewed October 11, 1924.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ORLANDO R. ERWIN and HAROLD V. GLos, citizens of the United States, and residents of Milwaukee and Chicago, respectively, in the counties of Milwaukee and Cook and States of Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates generally to a fire extinguishin device, and more particularly to a receptac e for holding a fire extinguishing charge and has special reference to the provision of a receptacle of the character referred to which may be conveniently mounted for ready access and may be easily manipulated to discharge the contents of the receptacle in cases of fire emergencies.

In the art of fire extinguishers it has been found desirable to provide a receptacle for a fire extinguishing charge suitable for convenient access in a conveyance such as an automobile, motor truck, motor boat or aeroplane, which shall combine the characteristics of being of relatively small dimensions, of being conveniently mounted for ready access in cases of fire emergencies and being made of the fewest of parts for facility of operation and cheapness of manufacture.

The principal objects of our invention therefore involve, in addition to the provision of a receptacle-and a holder therefor adapted to be mounted within small confines and readily accessible in a conveyance, the receptacle'being easily mountable on or demountable from the holder; the provision of a novel receptacle of thegclass described, in which the fire extinguishing charge is held in a container, which charge is intended to be poured in a dispensing cup connected with the container and then dashed from the dispensing cup on to the fire; the further provision of a novel composite container and cup so constructed that removal of the cup from the container simultaneously opens the container ready for the dispensing operation and the provision of a receptacle including illuminating means forming a part thereof so that the receptacle may be easily discernible at night or :when mounted in dark places.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, our invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings showing a preferable embodiment of our invention and in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of the receptacle and the holder in which it is mounted,

Figure 2 is a similar view with parts in cross section showing the interior construction of the receptacle,

Figure 3 is a left end view, and

Figure 4 is a right end view of the receptacle and holder.

Means is provided for holding a fire extinguishing charge such, for example, as carbon tetrachloride, which comprises preferably a container generally designated as 5, having in its preferred form a body portion 6 of relatively wide diameter and a closure end 7 of relatively small diameter, said container being preferably transparent and made of glass or other fragile transparent material and being of a size to hold for example a quart of the fire extinguishing charge. Mounted over the closure end of the container is a dispensing cup 8, which in the preferred form as shown in the drawings, is adapted to be guided by and encircle the body portion 6 of the container but which may be obviously mounted in any other manner and on the said cup is mounted closure means 9 for normally sealing the closure end of the container. The closure means consists preferably of a cylindrical stopper 10 adapted to be inserted in the open end of the container and a disc stopper 11 adapted to be inserted between the closure end of the container and the bottom of the dispensing cup, these stoppers being of 1zany desirable material such as corkor rub- Means is provided for connecting the stopper means to the cup, which preferably consists of a bolt 12 inserted through these elements and retaining the stoppers and cup in osition by any preferable means, such as ad ustable nuts 13 threaded on the bolt 12 with inter osed washers 14. The bolt 12 preferably as an extended end portion suitable for engagement in the holder to be described.

Means is provided for conveniently supporting the receptacle, which means preferably consists of a U-shaped bracket 15, having resilient end portions 16 and 17 respectively, this bracket being adapted to be mounted on any convenient sup ort, such as shown in Figure 1. To the ottom of the bracket is attached a resilient clip 18 adapted for engagement with the body portion of the receptacle 5. Resilient end portion 17 is rovided with an open bearing 18', adapted for seating the extended end of bolt 12, receptacle 5 being easily removable from this end bearing 17 in an upward direction.

It will be apparent that by providing a unitary bracket such as,15 with the resilient end supporting portions 16 and 17, that a combined receptacle and holder is provided in which the receptacle, besides being supported against lateral movement in the holder, said holder permitting only resilient lateral withdrawal of the receptacle in only one direction, namely an upward direction, is also supported against endwise movement in opposite directions. It will be further apparent that this support against endwise movement also is operative on the closure to effectively retain the same in sealed condition to prevent leakage even during the severe service conditions incident to the vibrations of the receptacle in which the holder and receptacle are mounted.

Means is provided to prevent endwise movement of the receptacle in the holder, which consists preferably of a longitudinally adjustable disc 19, rotatably mounted in the resilient end portion 16 and conveniently operated by any means, such as a thumb piece 20. During storage use of the receptacle on a vehicle, any looseness of parts or wear of the closure elements incident to vibration or shock taking place dur ing vehicle movement may be effectively compensated for by adjustment of the adjustable disk element 19, this construction thus providing for a leak-proof receptacle in the holder during service.

Means is provided for indicating the location of the extinguisher at night or in dark places, which consists of an illuminating means and preferably of a radium spotlight 21, mounted on a rod 22, preferably connected to the bolt 12 by any convenient means, such as an eye on the rod 22 encircling the bolt and being retained on the bolt by means of the nuts 13.

In operation, in the event of fire emergencies, the radium spotlight will readily indicate to the operator the position of the fire extinguishing device. The receptacle is removed from the holder by a sim le upward pull of the said receptacle, the container being then grasped in one hand and the dispensing cup in the other and an upward or downward pullexerted on the cup to remove the same from the container. This step of removing the on if removed in an upward direction, simu taneously removes the closure means, the cup additionally protecting the operator from any tendency of upward splashing of the charge in the container. If the cup is removed in a downward direction, not only is thestopper simultaneously removed, but the parts are then in position for the pouring of the charge into the cup, which simultaneously takes place. The charge is poured in the cup in any quantities and then dashed on to the fire. The operator may then securely close the container with its remaining charge, if any, by the simple movements of replacing the cup on the container and replacing the rece tacle on the resilient holder. The receptaclefieing transparent, the liquid level can be seen at all times, thus indicating when refilling is necessary. Recharging may obviously be done by an inexperienced erson without the use of any tools and without the necessity of returning the device to the factory, as is the case with prior devices.

While we have shown the dispensing cup as mounted on the closure end of the container, it will be apparent that the cup may be made separate from the closure and may be mounted on the bottom end of the con tainer. It will also be apparent that instead of using the dispensing cup for pouring the charge on the fire, the container may, where so desired, be used as a hand grenade by grasping cup 8 and hurling the container and contents on the fire, the fragile container breaking as a result of the impact, as will be apparent, permitting the charge to spread over the fire. Where the cup is mounted at the bottom of the container, the receptacle could also be used as a hand grenade after removal of the cup from the container.

While our novel receptacle is intended to be used with a fire extinguishing charge, it is apparent that it may be used for other purposes and we therefore do not intend to be limited to such use.

While we have shown our device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

We claim: 1

1. A fire extinguishing device, in combination. a container for holding a fire extinguishing charge, a closure for said container, a unitary bracket or holder for said container including provisions for supports ing, the container in said bracket or older to permit ready removal of the former as by grasping and pulling the same from the holder, the container and holder being transportable as a unit, said unitary holder being provided with means'operative on the container closure for maintaining the same in effectively sealed condition on the container.

2. A fire extinguishing device, in combination, a container for holding a fire extinguishing charge, a closure for said container including a dispensing cup attached thereto, a unitary bracket or holder for said container and dispensing cup including provisions for supporting the container and cup in said bracket or holder to permit ready removal of the former as by grasping and pulling the same from the holder, the container, cup and holder being transportable as a unit; said unitary holder being provided with means operative on the container closure for maintaining the same in effectively sealed condition on the container.

3. In a fire extinguishing device, a container for holding a liquid fire extinguishing charge, a closure on said container and a unitary holder supporting said container and closure, the holder and container being transportable as a unit; said unitary holder being provided with resilient means for retaining the container and closure against endwise movement in the holder, the said means yieldingly permitting lateral withdrawal of the container and closure in one direction, the said means being operative on the closure to maintain the same in effectively sealed condition on the container.

4. A fire extinguishing device, in combination, a container for holding a fire extinguishing charge, a closure for said container, a unitary bracket or holder for said container including provisions for supporting the container in said bracket or holder to permit ready removal of the former as by grasping and pulling the same from the holder. the container and holder being transportable as a unit, said unitary holder being provided with means for retaining the container against endwise movement therein. such means being operative on the container closure for maintaining the same in effectively sealed condition on the container and adjustable provisions for increasing endwise pressure on the container and closure whereby an anti-leak fire extinguishing device is efiected.

5. In a fire extinguishing device, a container holding a fire extinguishing charge, a closure for said container, a dispensing cup for the container, means connecting the closure and the dispensing cup, said means having provisions for engaging a support, and a unitary holder supporting said container and provisions, the holder, container and cup being capable of being handled as a unit, said unitary holder being provided with opposed means for retaining the container and closure against endwise movement in the holder; said means being operative on the closure to maintain the same in effectively sealed condition on the container.

6. In a fire extinguishing device, a transparent fluid container holding a fire extinguishin charge, a closure for said eontainer, an illuminating means mounted in said container and removable with said closure.

7. In a fire extinguishing device, a transparent fluid container holding a fire extinguishin charge, a closure for said eontainer, an illuminating means mounted in said container and connected to said closure.

8. A dispensing cup adapted to be mounted on a fluid container comprising a cup, a closure for the container fixed to said cup, and an illuminating element fitted on said closure.

9. In a fire extinguishing device, a support, a transglarent receptacle containing a fire extingui ing charge mounted in said support, and illuminating means mounted interiorly of said receptacle whereby, the location of the fire extinguisher is readily discernible in the dark.

10. A fire extinguishing device comprising a container having an open end, a closure for said end, a dispensing cup associated with the container and closure, said dispensing cup including provisions for engaging a support to maintain the closure in efiectively sealed condition.

11. A fire extinguishing device comprising a container, a closure for said container, a dispensing cup associated with the container and closure, said dispensing cup including provisions for engaging a support, and a holder for said container comprising means for holding the body portion of. the container and means for engaging said provisions to maintain the closure in effectively sealed condition.

12. In combination, a receptacle containing .a fire extinguishing medium, a holder for the fire extinguishing receptacle comprising resilient means for holding the body of the receptacle, adjustable end means for engaging the bottom of the receptacle, a closure for the receptacle and resilient end means for supporting the closure.

13. In a fire extinguishing device, a transparent fluid container, a closure for said container, illuminating means mounted in said container and connected to said closure, and a dispensing cup mounted on said container.

14. In a fire extinguishing device, a transparent fluid container, a closure for said container, illuminating means mounted in said container and connected to said closure,

said closure embodying provisions for engaging a support, and a dispensing cup mounted on said container.

15'. In a fire extinguishin device, a fluid container, a closure for said container embodying means for engaging a support, to maintain the closure in sealed condition, a dispensing cup mounted on said container, and a holder for resiliently and releasably supporting said container and said means.

16. In a fire extinguishing device, a con- .tainer for holding a fire extinguishing charge, a closure for said container, a dispensing cup associated with the container and closure and a holder supporting said container and said'dispensing cup, said holder comprising provisions for supporting the container and cup While permitting removal or withdrawal of the same as by grasping and pulling the same from the holder, the said holder including means for retaining the container against endwise movement therein, such means being operative on the dispensing cup and closure to urge and maintain the same in effectively sealed condition on the container.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 22nd day of October, A. D. 1920.

ORLANDO R. ERWIN. HAROLD V. GLOS. 

